1 apprehend there has been some very improper conclucl in rclntioli lo that corn, and l requesl Lhat you will forthwith institute n minute inquiry into all the facts in relation to its dislribu lion Subse<1uenl lo its arrival al Galveston - You will ascerlain the quanlily broughl in the Good Hope - the quantity landed al the Island - the quantity taken up the San Jacinto and the persons to whom it was commilted on lhal river or on Buffalo Bnyou - To this you will add the respective quantity You have recovered from these persons- Some time ago Mr Batterson of Harrisburg was here and represented lhe families in that vicinity lo be suffering for bread Stuffs and solicited that the Corn Stored there might be distributed for their accommo<lnlion - Me al the same time recommend a Mr. Keellogg as a suitable person lo superintend such distribution - Reposing, I fear a mistaken confidence in Lhat report of Mr. Batterson's, 1 gave the order for the distribution of lhe corn among the Suffering people but I particularly enjoined that the distribution should be so made that no one should Speculate upon lhe puhlic Stores- Subsequently to giving lhat order Capt Rodgers of the Naches represented thal his neighbors were equally deslitule of bread and applied for 50 Sacks of corn to be apportioned among them - He said he would he responsible lo the government for the whole amounl- 1 also gave him an order to receive 50 Sacks and required him as I had done in the former instances lo let none but Lhc really needy have it and to Lake receipts in all instances- At the time th is was done there was no very pre..-=sing necessity for corn in Lhe public Service, and I have ever considered the Suffering of Lhe people as the peculiar objects of Lhe care of government- I feel a particular solicitude lo have lhis business thoroughly ferreted oul, for I am pursuadt•d some villiany has b,~en practiced some where - I wish You so lo man,tge as not lo change Lhe original character of lhe shipment - ff lhe corn was shipped as Private properly and consigned lo a private individual do nol by any assumption change the r~sponcibility growing out of that arrangement - If there has hr.en any atlempl at Scoundling in this mallt:r l want lo find ii out, and let lhe guilty be c:xpo:st·cl- y our ohl Servant David C Burnt•t
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